Janhvi Kapoor Says Working In Jr NTR's 'Devara' Is Like A 'Homecoming': I Felt Closer To Mom

Actress Janhvi Kapoor is making her Telugu film debut with Jr NTR starrer 'Devara'. In an interview, Janhvi opened up about her experience working in the film. She said that making her debut in the Telugu industry is like a 'homecoming' for her. 

Jr. NTR’s 'Devara' is directed by Koratala Siva, and is one of the most anticipated movies of 2024. In an interview with Film Companion, Janhvi Kapoor said while working in Devara, she was able to understand what her mom Sridevi did decades ago. For the unversed, Sridevi was a superstar not only in the Hindi film industry but also in both Tamil and Telugu cinema. In fact, she started her acting career with South films. 

While talking about working in the Jr NTR starrer, Janhvi said that she had a lot of fun and is having a blast. ''I think I have gotten to a point where, after doing all these films wherein I am dying in a freezer, dislocating my shoulder, or acting with a rat, I realise I am allowing myself to do what comes naturally to me which is like nautanki, dialoguebaazi, dancing, and just having fun. And doing the kind of roles I have grown up enjoying and loving. I am finally getting the chance to do all in this film. I think I am going a little easier on myself and allowing myself to enjoy it. I think this is the perfect film to be able to do that,'' she said. 

She compared her experience of working in 'Devara' to her mom's acting journey. The actress said, “While being on the set, hearing the language, being around that flavour of cinema, it somehow makes me feel closer to mom which is quite ironic because when she started doing Hindi films, she didn’t know the language, and they called her a ‘parrot’. She would hear the dialogue and repeat it, and she was very good at it. She kind of felt alien in that environment, and I am going to Telugu cinema. I don’t know the language at all, and I am only phonetically familiar with Tamil. I record my dialogues, and my DOP Randy (Rathnavelu) calls me a ‘tape recorder’. So, I feel like I now have an understanding of what she did and it feels like home. Even before the film, I think they accepted me with open arms and so much love. Even on the sets, it feels like a big warm hug.”

'Devara' will be released in two parts. The posters have been unveiled and the makers will share a glimpse of the film on January 8. It is all set to hit the screens on April 5. 

The film also stars Saif Ali Khan, Shine Tom Chacko, Prakash Raj, and Narain among others.